Introduction

How long do you want your CPU to last? Some mainstreamers only upgrade once every two to three years, which means that choosing the right heatsink and fan is imperative. Of course there are other cooling factors involved when we talk about a system and they would include a case that will provide sufficient air flow and the proper amount of case fans to balance the input and output of the airflow through the case. Let’s face it, airflow is essential and if there is more coming in than going out, and vise verse, ambient temperatures in a case can soar. Once you have figured the right combination for cooling the components inside the case, your next step would be to cool the brains of your system and choosing the wrong heatsink and fan combination (if choosing air cooling) could shorten the life of your processor.

There are a lot of heatsink options to choose from, some come with a fan, some without, and some may have fans lit with LEDs and give a great eye candy effect when placed inside a case with an acrylic window. With so many options, how do you choose? First and foremost, research is the key, and without research you would be biting off your nose to spite your face. Next, remember flashy doesn’t mean better and, in most cases, it usually means worse, since the manufacturer may have put in more time developing the beauty of the hardware then concentrating on the function and efficiency.

When doing your research for the best air cooling solution you will also need to think of what you’ll be using your system for. Will you be using it as a work station, for gaming or are you going to overclock the CPU to increase performance? All these factors directly affect how much heat your CPU will generate and each will require a different amount of cooling. As a rule of thumb (or at least my own) a good heatsink should not exceed more than a 13 to 15 C increase between idle and load stock and when the CPU is overclocked, a minimum of 20 C. Anything under that increase I would consider highly efficient.

The Noctua NH-U12P Special Edition SE1366 is a heatsink and fan combination designed for Intel Core I7 Processors. The NH-U12P by Noctua is designed in Austria and comes with two 120 mm fans one for intake and the other for output. The NH-U12P is designed with a copper base and heat-pipes (6) and has aluminum cooling fins. The Noctua NH-U12-P Special Edition SE 1366 also comes with a 6 year warranty.